Picking a Prize-Winning Pumpkin and Preventing Pain
By Virginia Laird
It is time to visit local pumpkin patches, take pictures of the kids all decked out in fall attire, and select the perfect prize-winning pumpkin to take home. Many may not realize the strain involved in lugging a pumpkin around the patch, but it can take its toll on the back. Here are some suggestions, offered by chiropractors, to help prevent back pain when lifting and lugging your perfect pumpkin, including:
- Use the leg muscles to lift
- Plan ahead
- Use a buddy method
Use the leg muscles to lift - When hauling your pumpkin from the patch to the car and from the car to the house, chiropractors advise it’s paramount to lift with the legs. Lifting heavy items is one of the leading causes of back pain. Far too many people use their back muscles to lift their loads. For those who may not recognize the difference, here are the ways to identify how you may be lifting your loads:
- Lifting with the back - When lifting with the back, a person bends at the waist, which causes strain to the back, especially the lower back.
- Lifting with the legs - When using the legs to lift, a person bends at the knees. The back muscles are not strained using this method.
Plan Ahead
Planning ahead is a great way to protect the back while lifting and hauling a heavy load. If you know when you are planning the trip to the pumpkin patch, it can be easy to throw a wagon, stroller, or any other type of rolling contraption into the car to prevent having to carry the load around. Chiropractors suggest using rolling devices to help haul heavy loads, which helps limit the strain put on the back.
Use a Buddy Method
Another idea offered by chiropractors to prevent back pain in the pumpkin patch is to use the buddy method. Ask a friend to go with you and your family to help with the heavy lifting. This is a great way to share the weight of the pumpkin, taking the strain off your back and the back of your friend. You’ll also want to offer to return the favor.
If you have your sights set on the largest pumpkin in the patch, make sure to utilize these tips to help prevent back pain from putting a downer on your pumpkin patch party. As always, if you are someone who suffers with back pain, it is important to visit with a chiropractor. Stop by The Joint Chiropractic on your way to the pumpkin patch to get the green light on hauling your loot across the lot. Here’s to hoping you find your prize-winning perfect pumpkin!
To learn more about your health and wellness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Chandler, Ariz.